'Diner' (1982)

Handout photo

Levinson began his directing career with "Diner," based on his experiences growing up in Baltimore's Forest Park neighborhood. The movie, an unexpected hit, scored Levinson his second Oscar nomination, for original screenplay (he'd also been nominated for co-writing 1979's "..and Justice for All"). Levinson would later revisit the friends on whom "Diner" was based in his 1999 documentary, "Diner Guys."

Levinson began his directing career with "Diner," based on his experiences growing up in Baltimore's Forest Park neighborhood. The movie, an unexpected hit, scored Levinson his second Oscar nomination, for original screenplay (he'd also been nominated for co-writing 1979's "..and Justice for All"). Levinson would later revisit the friends on whom "Diner" was based in his 1999 documentary, "Diner Guys." (Handout photo)

Levinson began his directing career with "Diner," based on his experiences growing up in Baltimore's Forest Park neighborhood. The movie, an unexpected hit, scored Levinson his second Oscar nomination, for original screenplay (he'd also been nominated for co-writing 1979's "..and Justice for All"). Levinson would later revisit the friends on whom "Diner" was based in his 1999 documentary, "Diner Guys."